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Tony Blair has dismissed as ‘beyond speculation’ claims he is being lined up as an advisor to Donald Trump after he was spotted having lunch with the president elect’s influential son-in-law.

Mr Blair dined with Jared Kushner, who is married to Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka, at fashionable hotel restaurant in New York. The Telegraph can disclose that Mr Blair and Mr Kushner, who is now being viewed as the ‘kingmaker’ of the incoming White House team, have known each other for “several years”.

The pair were spotted deep in conversation in Cipriani’s restaurant, inside a hotel overlooking Central Park.

Jared Kushner and wife Ivanka TrumpCredit:
Mike Coppola/Getty Images

The meeting has led to suggestions – vigorously denied by Mr Blair – that the former British prime minister could be offered some form of advisory role in a Trump administration.

Mr Blair remains keen to broker a peace deal in the Middle East and retains a staffed office in Tel Aviv.

It is so far beyond speculation there isn’t a word for it.Tony Blair spokesman

Mr Blair’s spokesman said: “Tony Blair has known Jared Kushner for several years. Mr Blair was walking past their lunch table. He knew a number of people at the table and he was invited to join them.

“He has not discussed any role. This is completely overblown.”

Asked if Mr Blair would take on a formal Middle East peace role if asked by Mr Trump, the spokesman replied: “It is so far beyond speculation there isn’t a word for it.”

It is not clear how Mr Blair was first introduced to Mr Kushner but it is possible that the two men were introduced through Rupert Murdoch and his then wife Wendi Deng.

Wendi Deng

Miss Deng, who is said to have become infatuated with Mr Blair while still married to Mr Murdoch, is a close friend of Ivanka Trump.

When Mr Kushner and Miss Trump’s relationship was on the rocks, they were reunited thanks to Miss Deng, who invited the pair – separately – onto their yacht for a holiday.

Miss Trump spent this summer in Croatia with Miss Deng, who divorced Mr Murdoch in 2013 after 14 years of marriage, amid rumours of her infatuation with Mr Blair.

But in an interview with Fortune in 2014, Mr Murdoch alleged that Mr Blair had spent secret weekends with Miss Deng at the Murdoch family’s California ranch.

Jared Kushner leaving Trump Tower on Nov 14Credit:
Carolyn Kaster/AP

Mr Kushner is believed to be orchestrating the “knife fight” for power inside Trump Tower - ousting those loyal to Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor who prosecuted Mr Kushner’s father for tax evasion, and ushering in people he believes to be more suitable.

It was reportedly Mr Kushner and his wife who persuaded Mr Trump to make Reince Priebus his chief of staff. It was Mr Kushner who was said to have convinced Mr Trump to make Mike Pence the vice president, instead of Mr Christie.